Going into hock is a holiday downer

DALLAS -- Gunnar Johnson remembers a Christmas years ago when he and his wife made long wish lists and bought each other everything on the lists.

But when they opened their presents they felt no holiday joy.

"It was the same feeling you have when you eat too much candy," he said. "Just -- ugh, why'd I do that?"

They had the same feeling a year later, when their carpet- cleaning business faltered and their debts totaled $88,000.

Today, Johnson works full time encouraging others not to repeat his mistakes. In January, he became life stewardship minister at Richland Hills Church of Christ in North Richland Hills, Texas, working to help members get their finances under control.

His ministry is part of a growing movement among faith groups, particularly conservative Christians, advocating a debt-free lifestyle. At a time when many shoppers are eagerly reaching for their credit cards to buy holiday gifts, these groups encourage folks to pay cash instead. Too much debt, they say, exacts a spiritual toll, destroys marriages and enslaves people, preventing them from doing God's work.

"It's not a sin, but the Bible has nothing good to say about debt," said Dave Ramsey, an anti-debt guru based in Nashville, Tenn.

Ramsey's syndicated radio show on personal finance is heard on 3,000 stations. His crusade against credit was featured last month on "60 Minutes."

He often brings his debt-busting gospel to churches because, he says, the spiritual roots of the problem must be addressed to change behavior.

"Our Christian faith is very direct about money. Proverbs 22:7 says the borrower is a slave to the lender," he said. "And God doesn't want us to have a slavery spirit."

His is hardly the only voice crying in the wilderness against the dangers of debt. This month's issue of Focus on the Family magazine touts a book called Debt-Proof Your Marriage. Creflo Dollar, the well- known evangelist and pastor of World Changers Church International in College Park, Ga., wrote a book called "No More Debt!: God's Strategy for Debt Cancellation."

The debt-fighters, though, have picked a David-and-Goliath battle. The credit card industry spends billions every year in advertising to persuade consumers to get more cards and keep spending.

Americans collectively carry more than $2 trillion in credit card debt. The average household carries a credit card balance of more than $7,500.

"This is a major societal problem," said Johnson. "But most seminaries don't teach pastors about money, and less than 10 percent of churches teach anything on finances outside of giving. And people are tuning out those messages about giving because they're in so much debt."

Many faith traditions have teachings relating to debt and overspending. Christianity and Judaism warn against coveting others' possessions, which can lead to overspending. Islam bans charging or paying interest.

"A lot of the overspending is occurring in the wealthiest areas of town," said Johnson. "People with six-figure incomes can easily get locked into a very costly lifestyle. The more you make, the more expensive your toys are."

Church is a good place to address debt worries, said Tonya Wright of Inspiring Temple of Praise Church in Fort Worth. "People who are hurting flock to the churches," she said. "They go to church looking for direction and support and a word to give them strength."

While these efforts specifically target debt, some Christian groups say the bigger issue is materialism -- and people trying to fill a spiritual void with things.

Kristen Johnson Ingram, the author of a book called "Devotions for Debtors," said shopaholics exhibit "real spiritual distress. . . . That 'I want I want I want' voice in your head is a little tyrant."

"Debt, like obesity, is our American problem, and often it comes from greed, whether it's for food or material things."

Johnson said he figured that out years ago. The spending habits that led to his $88,000 debt, he said, were a spiritual problem as much as a financial one.

He and his wife sold most of what they owned, including the carpet- cleaning business, and started another company without any loans. Within five years, they'd paid off the debt, freeing him to take the ministry job at Richland Hills.

This Christmas, Johnson and his wife will buy each other just one inexpensive gift. And, he said, they'll enjoy Christmas more, because the holiday "is not about the money anymore."

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